Ratchet actuated pipe bending tool



Jan. 31, 1956 F. A. HART 2,732,743

RATCHET ACTUATED PIPE BENDING TOOL Filed March 17, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent RATCHET ACTUATED PIPE BENDING TOGL Frank A. Hart, Milwaukie, Oreg. Application March 17, 1953, setn No. 342,927 '2 Claims. '(Cl. 81-15) flhis invention relates to ratcheting pipe bending tools.

Tools 'of the presently described class are used in construction work for bending electrical and water conduits and will be described with particular reference to this application, although it is to be understood that they also may be applied to pipes of other classes, as well as to bars and rods of solid cross-section. They conventionally are of substantial size and weight, being for example from 4 to 6 feet in overall length.

Because of the fixed position of the head relative to the handle, conventional pipe bending tools or hickeys often are employed inefiiciently and with considerable difiiculty. For example, it is difiicult to apply a conventional rigid hickey in bending conduit in places of limited clearance, as between studs, or between roof and ceiling joists. In such applications, the tool cannot be manipulated properly, or in the alternative can only be manipulated in an awkward position which may result in strained ligaments, or injuries resulting from falls.

It also is diflicult to use a conventional hickey in applications Where the conduit extends outwardly into space, as into an elevator shaft. In such a case, it obviously is impossible to employ a rigid tool except with extreme hazard to the operator. There also is attendant hazard to workers below the operator, who inadvertently may drop the tool.

Still further, with conventional hickeys it is difficult to make bends close to structural members; to bend conduits without kinking or crimping them; to make bends which are exact duplicates of each other; and to bend conduits or bars in substantially a complete circle.

It therefore is the principal object of the present invention to provide a pipe bending tool or hickey which can be used safely for making accurate, smooth bends in conduits or bars in places which are inaccessible or which provide limited clearance.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pipe bending tool which may be adjusted for use by the operator to an optimum working position in which he can exert maximum force against the tool without straining himself or becoming overbalanced.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pipe bending tool which will make smooth, reproducible bends of any desired arc in conduits and bars of diverse cross-section.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a pipe bending tool which may be used as a gauge to determine accurately the extent of the bend made in a given length of material.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the following specification and claims considered together with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the presently described tool; and

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

As is apparent from the drawings, the ratchet hickey of my invention comprises a handle 10 which may be of 2 any desired material and length, for example, 5 feet. If desired, the handle may be jointed to permit furnishing handles of graduated length fora given tool head. This handle 10 may be provided in two sections, there being a base section 12 jointed to the main section 10 of the handle through coupling 15.

Connected to the end of the handle is a ratchet member which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a first ratchet plate 16 and a second ratchet pla'te 1-8. These are centrally perforated and have registering, otf-center openings transversely therethroug'h. T he central perforations are adapted to receive a pivot pin 20 which serves as a pivotal ratcheting axis.

Means also are provided for maintaining the two ratchet plates in ratcheting engagement each other. In the form illustrated in the drawing, such means comprise the coil spring 22 mounted on a projecting end of pivot pin 20. The tensioning means is maintained under the re- 'q'uired tension by suitable means, such as the nut 24 threaded onto a threaded section of pin 20.

The hickey of my invention is constructed so that it may be operated, if desired, as either a rigid tool or a ratcheting tool. Accordingly, there is provided a pin 26 adapted for reception by the registering off-center openings in the ratchet plates. This pin may be inserted in the openings when a rigid tool is required. However, when a ratcheting tool is desired, the pin may be re moved.

Also provided is a jaw member adapted to engage the conduit or bar to be bent. The jaw member illustrated comprises a sleeve 28 which is rigid to the second ratchet member 18. The bore of sleeve 28 is such as to receive conduits of the specified dimensions. It preferably is discontinuous to provide a longitudinal peripheral opening at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. Accordingly, the tool may be placed over the conduit at an oblique angle, after which the longitudinal axes of the conduit and sleeve are aligned. Thereupon the lips of the sleeve retain the conduit in place.

Thus in its operating position the longitudinal axis of sleeve 28, and of the conduit or bar contained therein, is substantially normal to the pivotal ratcheting axis of the tool, i. e. to the longitudinal axis of pivot pin 20. This makes for convenient application of the tool to the work and improves its efficiency of operation.

In operation, the jaw of the tool is adjusted with respect to the handle to a position in which it may readily be applied to the work. The handle then is worked back and forth to operate the ratchet, until the desired arc has been formed. In this operation the ratchet may be used as a gauge, since by counting the clicks of the ratchet the operator can tell how much the conduit has been bent.

Thus it will be apparent that by the present invention I have provided a pipe bending tool which is versatile and may be applied to the bending of conduits and bars in confined or inaccessible places. The tool may be operated as a ratchet tool or as a rigid tool. Also, it reduces to a minimum the hazard occasioned by use of a tool in a strained position, or by dropping it on other workmen. Still further, the conduits and bars may be bent accurately in smooth, reproducible bends.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be restored to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pipe bending tool, comprising a handle, a first centrally perforated ratchet plate connected to the handle, a second centrally perforated ratchet plate engaging the first plate, a pivot pin penetrating the central perforations through the plates and extending outwardly therefrom, a spring seated on the projecting portion of the pivot pin, screw means carried by the pivot pin for pressing the spring against the outer surface of one of the ratchet plates, thereby maintaining the ratchet plates in ratcheting engagement with each other, and a sleeve-like pipe engaging jaw member connected to the second ratchet plate with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin, the jaw member being disposed in a plane offset from the handle, whereby to clear the latter during rotation of the ratchet, the jaw member having a bore dimensioned to receive the pipe and being discontinuous to provide a longitudinal peripheral opening for the introduction of the pipe into the jaw member, the opening being at an oblique angle to the 15 second centrally perforated ratchet plate engaging the first 20 plate, a pivot pin penetrating the central perforations through the plates and extending outwardly therefrom, resilient means bearing against the ratchet plates and acting to maintain them in ratcheting engagement with each other, and a sleeve-like pipe engaging jaw member connected to the second ratchet plate with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin, the jaw member being disposed in a plane' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,756 Lakin ,Jan. 24, 1905 1,026,353 Harmer et al May 14, 1912 1,075,837 Malo et a1. Oct. 14, 1913 1,251,610 Youngs Ian. 1, ,1918 1,321,005 Bowman Nov. 4, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,416 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1922 

